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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

I ordered the FZ18 (1 Viewer)

Repetition

Ron, Apologies for any degree of deja vu; I just noticed it was you I replied to on the very subject of the SP-570 on the Olympus forum, Rich
 
Hi all,

yes the Bramblings were taken with my Fuji F31FD and Kowa TS-614 telescope. For comparison look at the Chaffinch shot here, taken with the FZ18 and TCON-17 over the same distance as my Fuji shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/2373577240/

The Sculthorpe moor set has some good comparisons of FZ18 & TCON V F31FD/Scope, as I was digiscoping whilst my other half, Ian was playing with the panny. Compare for example some of the Pheasant shots and the water rails (check the exif data to know which camera took what):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/sets/72157604217422105/

What I will say to you both is that these two set ups compliment each other nicely. In good light and at closer range I can get great shots with the Panny. Its much more portable, easier and quicker to focus and can do birds in flight (although that is stretching the capabilities). However, in overcast conditions, over longer distances and where the birds are cooperative enough to set up my fuji/scope combo I can sometimes get a better shot (and the bramblings are a good example of that). However, I do find I use the Panny a lot more often than the scope these days when the light is good because sometimes I just don't want to be burdened with a telescope.

In any case, I wouldn't have got the attached shot (taken on elephantback in Bandhavgarh, India) with my fuji and scope!

Ian has also just got a Canon 30D and 170-500 sigma lens. We'll be returning to this site soon so stay tuned for more comparisons.

Regards

Jo
 

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That's an excellent Tiger shot, Jo. If Bramblings were the same size as Tigers we wouldn't have nearly as many problems photographing them, would we? Mind you, it would play havoc with the feeders.;)

Ron
 
Hi Rich

I never use a tripod it would defeat the object of owning the FZ18, even with the tcon-17 fitted it still fits in the map pocket of my walking coat.

Graham
 
shots and points well taken

Hi all,

yes the Bramblings were taken with my Fuji F31FD and Kowa TS-614 telescope. For comparison look at the Chaffinch shot here, taken with the FZ18 and TCON-17 over the same distance as my Fuji shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/2373577240/

The Sculthorpe moor set has some good comparisons of FZ18 & TCON V F31FD/Scope, as I was digiscoping whilst my other half, Ian was playing with the panny. Compare for example some of the Pheasant shots and the water rails (check the exif data to know which camera took what):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/sets/72157604217422105/

What I will say to you both is that these two set ups compliment each other nicely. In good light and at closer range I can get great shots with the Panny. Its much more portable, easier and quicker to focus and can do birds in flight (although that is stretching the capabilities). However, in overcast conditions, over longer distances and where the birds are cooperative enough to set up my fuji/scope combo I can sometimes get a better shot (and the bramblings are a good example of that). However, I do find I use the Panny a lot more often than the scope these days when the light is good because sometimes I just don't want to be burdened with a telescope.

In any case, I wouldn't have got the attached shot (taken on elephantback in Bandhavgarh, India) with my fuji and scope!

Ian has also just got a Canon 30D and 170-500 sigma lens. We'll be returning to this site soon so stay tuned for more comparisons.

Regards

Jo

Thanks for the advice and comparisons there Kittykat. Your points are well made and well taken here. I guess it's down to the old issue of compromises in photography. However, the chaffinch and great tit with the Z18 are very good, if not quite as sharp as the digiscoped bramblings
Regards Rich
 
It takes movies as well

Did I miss it, or has this argument gone lost? These fine cameras take movies as well. Another reason for me why I love them. I have the FZ8, but the basics are the same. Except for a smaller zoom range, of course.

Anyway, unless one wants to lug around a lot of heavy stuff , and expend a fortune as well, these Panasonics are as close to perfect as one can hope for. Sure, some improvements would be in order. Mainly the noise and the contrast problem, but also the time lag in shutter release. One problem one has to deal with as well is the centered focus area. It's easy to have the background focussed instead of the bird or the flower or whatever intended object.
 
My Panasonic FZ4 with a built in 12 x 402mm died, I really like using that camera. Is the FZ8 similar as far as picture quality goes or would the FZ18 with 18 x give a little more room for birding. Some reviews indicate noise on the FZ18 but that may be just in the eye of the beholder? Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.
 
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Another comparison- Marsh harrier

Hi everyone,

we returned to Sculthorpe Moor yesterday but sadly the water rails were nowhere to be seen. However, three marsh hariers were putting on a good show and one female was particularly cooperative by sitting on a post. However, she was very far away. Both sets of shots were taken at the full limit of what I can get at the telephoto end of both setups. The FZ18 at 3mp with the TCON-17 and the Fuji F31FD 6mp at 3x zoom through my 20x eyepiece on the Kowa TS-614.

Firstly the FZ18- straight out of the camera no PP:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2391420865_fbfc687899_b.jpg

and a 100% crop of the bird.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/2392281498_2b225e54b4_o.jpg

Secondly the Fuji/scope combo:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2392208044_41c554685f_b.jpg

and a 100% crop:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2391441947_bbc11aa70b_o.jpg

and the same fuji shot sharpened:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2391383269_e17653eb0d_b.jpg


Further shots for comparison here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/sets/72157604217422105/
 
Managed to get a shot of her taking off as well, unfortunately the end result could've been used for a new Tim Burton movie entitled "The Headless Harrier".

Edit: Another point to raise the AF has a tendency to be somewhat hit and miss at those distances and weather conditions (especially when trying to acquire a moving target). I was halfway tempted just to switch to manual, whack it onto infinity and hope for the best.
 
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..... Another point to raise the AF has a tendency to be somewhat hit and miss at those distances and weather conditions (especially when trying to acquire a moving target). I was halfway tempted just to switch to manual, whack it onto infinity and hope for the best.


I have the same problem with the FZ8, and I think someone mentioned the reason for it: These cameras base their autofocus on contrast, and that contrast is diminished under certain light or weather conditions. And it is also lower under tele-lens situations.
 
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